A compelling examination of Russia's national strategy from the founding of the Romanov dyansty to World War I delving into military strategies, political power dynamics, and the historical evolution of one of the world’s most influential nations.

Historian William C. Fuller Jr. expertly breaks down and studies an incredibly important section of Russia's complex military history, spanning from the founding of the Romanov dysnasty in the early 17th century to the brink of World War I. Focusing on the ways in which tsarist statesmen and governments tried to employ force or the threat of force to achieve their political objectives over roughly three hundred years, this book is a study of high military strategy, the connection between military means and political ends. Fuller discusses the ways in which Russian strategic tradition adapted—and failed to adapt—to challenges of geography, demographics, poverty, and technological change.

Built through warfare and conquest, the military strategies left an indelible imprint on Russian society, economy, and government. Understanding the history of imperial Russian strategy can shed light on more modern and urgent concerns, and even help while considering the future. A knowledge of imperial military history is more pertinent than ever to understand the transformation of Russia and its miltary.